The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 12 [Parts 1 to 9] by Natsu Hyuuga

Author:Natsu Hyuuga
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 9: The Foreign Girl

Ultimately, the dispute over Gyoku-ou’s inheritance remained at an impasse. Maomao, for her part, just kept working like she always did. There was no reason for her to stick her nose into a bunch of strangers’ personal argument.

Hulan showed up at the medical office again. This time he said, “There’s a patient who wishes to be seen by a woman, if that’s all right.”

He’s like Rear-Palace Jinshi.

Hulan seemed to spend a lot of time running messages for other people, but he didn’t appear to mind.

“Is the patient a woman?” Maomao asked.

“Yes, the daughter of a good family. You must forgive us; female physicians, or women who have anything like a doctor’s qualifications, are exceedingly rare in the western capital.”

Not so different from the time with Xiaohong.

Maomao looked at the young man, so humble despite his relatively high birth. It was true; even when women got involved in medicine, it was rarely as anything more than apothecaries or perhaps midwives. Even in the royal capital, Maomao had never seen an actual female physician.

“What are the symptoms?” she asked.

“A headache that won’t go away. She’s tried the usual remedies, but nothing helps. Hence talk turned to having her seen by a proper doctor.”

“So you want me to make a house call?”

Hulan smiled as if he’d thought she’d never ask. “It would help very much. I’ll inform the Moon Prince about it.”

“Is this not on his orders?” Maomao was surprised. She had been sure this was coming directly from Jinshi.

“No, this is a personal request from me. An acquaintance asked if I knew any female medical personnel.”

“All right. As far as I’m concerned, if the Moon Prince approves, then I’ll go. But if he doesn’t, then I can’t help you.”

“I certainly understand.”

Hulan left the medical office. Maomao watched him go.

“What’s going on, miss?” Lihaku asked, watching too.

“Nothing. Tell me, what do you think about Master Gyoku-ou’s third son?”

“Huh... Well, it depends what you mean by that, I guess.”

“Something about him just...nags at me.”

She couldn’t put a name to it; it just bothered her. Something about him felt off.

“That right? Maybe it’s because he’s so much like you, miss. Likes repel and everything.”

“S-So much like him? What about me is like him?” Maomao asked. She didn’t actively dislike Hulan. She just found his behavior a little odd.

“Come on. What about the way you casually size people up all the time?”

Lihaku might seem like a big mutt, but he didn’t just wag his tail and go along with everything everyone said. He was no bureaucrat, but he was quick-witted.

“Do I...size people up?”

“You’re looking at me like I’m a shar-pei right now.”

Maomao didn’t say anything. A shar-pei was a large fighting dog. She was all but struck dumb by the perspicacity of Lihaku’s observation.

“The way she does that, it’s just like Lahan,” Lahan’s Brother said. Why was he here? He was having tea with the quack doctor. Fishwort tea, by the smell of it. It was a fast-growing herb with medicinal uses, but it was hard to cultivate in a dry climate, and Lahan’s Brother had given up the attempt.

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